Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on October 18, 2016 at 9:16pm

How do, or did, you avoid fret buzz with your action set so low? Is the secret in the neck angle or something? Yet you say it was on a regular guitar so I can't see how it could be neck angle that stops the fret buzz. I ask because I'm always getting fret buzz higher up the fret board so would really appreciate info on how you avoid the issue. 

Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on October 18, 2016 at 11:10pm

Not exactly what you are talking about Paul, but i've got a cbg with a homemade unpotted pick up, just by chance it has a great microphonic effect,i can tap out a rythym on the box, which in turn sets the strings droning, then note the strings with a slide, it's quite good fun and different, i've tried to replicate it on later pups, but can't quite get it right, they either are too responsive like a piezo, or no effect at all

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on October 19, 2016 at 11:38am

That'll work. All pups are microphonic to some extent and this method will work with higher string height, just may be harder for newbies. Try try try and try again.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on October 18, 2016 at 9:41pm

Requires a very straight neck with just a little relief in the trussrod adjustment, a good setup and fingertips need to be hard too which comes with a lot of play time.

 I would have the strings at 3/32nds" above the first fret, but I would have about 5/32nds" to 3/16ths" at the 24th fret. A neck adjusted this way will not have any fret buzz unless there's a dip/uneven place in the neck. That's why a fretted neck is so much more work than a fretless or slide guitar. You need a good straight and level piece of wood to start with, a good trussrod, level frets, neck set at the right angle to the body and setup.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on October 19, 2016 at 12:08am

Thanks for replying Paul. Sounds like you're way ahead of me with your building. Maybe I should rethink the plan to buy neck blanks on ebay and go to my local timber merchant to make sure I get straight wood. Thanks for helping. Much appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on October 18, 2016 at 10:41pm

This is how I get low action on a 3 stringer.

The secret is in the taper of the neck. I have been consistently buying the same 4cm x 2cm mahogany. I will carve a 3cm width x 3cm depth size D at the nut and a 3.2 width x 3.6cm depth D at the 10th fret with that angle leading off to the heel (for light strings) or the 13th fret (for heavy strings). Heavy strings also get a drop off relief when fret leveling.

The idea being to use the fact that the neck will slightly bow when the strings go on (the frets are leveled before any strings go on) but to try to control the bow Position by thickening the wood so that it bows more at some places than others.

Now when I say a bow in the neck I'm aiming at perhaps 1/4 - 2/3mm at its deepest part. (Depending on string size and scale length) Check by holding down a tuned string at the first and last fret and tapping the middle of the string.

I also string a guitar slightly too high tuned for a few days and leave it like that before bringing it back to normal tuning to set up the action at the bridge.

I will add that I put my frets directly on the neck and it's very rare that I will use a separate fretboard.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on October 19, 2016 at 12:11am

Sounds complicated and again I think you're way ahead of me in building skills. You've given me quite a lot of gems in there and I'll try tuning past the strings tuned notes and leaving it for a few days and also try not using a fretboard too. Lots to think on and your help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on October 19, 2016 at 11:29am

That's the way to do it Fomhorach.

There's a place online Grey Bear to buy CBG necks already built or a semi-built neck that you finish. I believe it's Deltagrooveguitars.com

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on October 19, 2016 at 10:31pm

Thanks again Paul. I'll take a look at the link.

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